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Veterans event request and public‑records, battery‑storage safety concerns raised during public comment
Summary
Public commenters asked commissioners to reserve county fairgrounds for a Veterans Stand Down, pressed for Tippecanoe Emergency Ambulance Service records to be made public, and urged county action on potential 100‑MW battery energy storage concerns near Westwood Substation.
Several members of the public addressed the board during the May 18 public‑comment period.
Jason Anderson, commander of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 7, requested the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds for a Military Veteran Stand Down and Resource Fair on Nov. 1, 2026. Anderson said the event will include outreach and social services officers from West Lafayette Police and the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office and will involve about 75 community partners; veterans will pre‑register through organizations such as Lafayette Transitional Housing Center and Lafayette Urban Ministry.
Resident Justin Kendall pressed the county for an update on public records requests related to Tippecanoe Emergency Ambulance Service (TEAS). Kendall argued that publicly posting TEAS operational financial reports and meeting minutes would improve transparency. Commissioner's Assistant Paula Bennett said she had supplied the records she could; County Attorney Doug Masson said he was evaluating whether certain TEAS records held by a commissioner in a TEAS director capacity are public under Indiana law and hoped to provide a legal determination in the coming weeks.
Resident Kenny McCleary said the recently approved solar ordinance lacked provisions on decommissioning cost estimates and rules for large Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). McCleary stated he is aware of an active commercial 100‑megawatt BESS interconnection request at the planned Westwood Substation and voiced concerns about fire risks and potential shelter‑in‑place orders that could affect Wabash Township residents, West Lafayette and the Purdue University campus. He urged the commissioners to ask the requestor to withdraw interconnection requests and cancel property leases and to consider a county ordinance addressing large BESS facilities.
Deidra Nicely of Purdue Extension introduced three 4‑H interns by name and program affiliation. The board did not take formal action on the public‑comment requests during the meeting; Masson said the county is reviewing the TEAS public‑records question.
